13 schoolchildren killed as train hits van in UP

Kushinagar: At least 13 schoolchildren were killed and several others injured when their van was hit by a train at an unmanned railway crossing here on Thursday morning.

According to DGP OP Singh, around 13 children and the driver of the van were killed in the accident ."All relief teams have reached the spot. NDRF team is also expected to reach the spot," he said.

The van of Divine Public School with around 20 students was crossing the unmanned Dudhi railway crossing to reach the school under Vishnupura police station area when it was hit by Siwan-Gorakhpur passenger train.

The DGP said that the injured children have been rushed to the district hospital.However, the number of casualty could increase as seven children are critically injured.Divisional Commissioner of Gorakhpur has rushed to the spot ,which is around 22 kms from Padrauna.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed his grief over the tragedy.He has ordered a high-level probe by Divisional Commissioner of Gorakhpur and announced Rs 2 lakh each as compensation to the victims' kin.

"In an unfortunate train accident of schoolchildren in Kushinagar where students of Divine Public School have died. The CM has expressed his deepest condolences on this very unfortunate incident and directed the District Administration to provide all possible help and medical aid to the affected children," said principal secretary Information Avinash Awasthi.

Cutting short his Amroha trip, Mr Adityanath has left for Kushinagar to meet the bereaved families.(UNI)